Horns Reef work in progress

As previously informed, Vestas has experienced a series of problems with the operation of the offshore project Horns Reef located in the North Sea, 15 kilometres off the shore near Esbjerg located on the Danish west coast.

Harsh environment

The environment at Horns Reef is harsh and it has been ascertained that all transformers and a number of generators had to be changed. In close and constructive collaboration with the customer, the Danish utility Elsam, Vestas and ABB are therefore together solving the problems having analysed the situation and how the operation of Horns Reef most efficiently is improved and how the repair work can be done in the most optimal way. Due to the rough weather conditions in the North Sea several possibilities have been considered – including the possibility of transporting the nacelles and the blades onshore and accomplish parts of the work here.

To be sure – 81 nacelles are to be dismantled

A question has been how many nacelles were to be dismantled for tests and updates at Vestas’ facilities in Ringkøbing, Denmark. In order to obtain the best results of the extensive work of improving the operation of the Horns Reef turbines it has now been decided to transport all 81 units of the V80-2.0MW nacelles to Ringkøbing and Lem – i.e. the 80 nacelles at Horns Reef and the test nacelle situated onshore in Tjaereborg near the city of Esbjerg.

Experience – second to none

To ensure that the future operation of the Horns Reef project will be satisfactory to the customer as well as to Vestas, the work of improving the operation of Horns Reef will have Vestas’ utmost attention.

“Experience is expensive, but also precious. Being the first large offshore project, Horns Reef must be a success. The project is important for Vestas’ continued leadership in the offshore segment. It is my belief that Vestas will win the market in this segment. Even though it has been at a high premium, it puts Vestas and our suppliers into a unique position,” maintains Svend Sigaard, President and CEO and he continues “Horns Reef represents a token of supplier reliability.”

The Horns Reef project will comprise much work, and it is expected to be completed during the autumn of 2004.

Facts about Horns Reef

With a total capacity of 160 MW Horns Reef is one of the world’s largest offshore projects. The establishment of Horns Reef contributed to reinforce Vestas’ position as the world’s leading manufacturer of wind power systems for both onshore and offshore sites. Horns Reef consisting of 80 units of the V80-2.0 MW offshore turbine was erected in the period from April to September 2002.

Vestas’ offshore activities in the UK

Through the Horns Reef project, Vestas has gained a lot of experience in offshore work and has among other offshore projects been chosen as the supplier to three offshore projects in the UK with a total capacity of more than 200 MW. One of these projects, North Hoyle, is already installed and has since it was put into operation in July 2003 proven good results. North Hoyle, approx. seven kilometres from the north coast of Wales, consists of a total of 30 units of the V80-2.0MW turbines. In 2003 Vestas entered into agreements about delivery of a total capacity of approx. 150 MW to two other offshore projects in the UK, Scroby Sands approx. three kilometres off Great Yamouth in Norfolk on the UK’s east cost and Kentish Flats off Kent. Questions regarding Horns Reef should be addressed to Vestas’ President and CEO Svend Sigaard at +45 9730 8002.